Posted on: PaloAlto County Obituaries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/PaloAltoObits/644 Surname: Kane, Bradley, Catern, Dower, Dahl ------------------------- Emmetsburg Democrat Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa Wednesday, March 26, 1926 Little Corporal J.J. Kane Called Made Memorable Record at Vicksburg. In Service Four Years. Funeral to Be Held Tomorrrow at 9 O'clock John J Kane, who was very ill for a couple of weeks, died at his home in this city early Monday morning. The funeral will take place tomorrow. Services will be conducted at St. Thomas church. There will be a military funeral. Mr. Kane was born in the county of Roscommon, Ireland, on Christmas day, 1842. His age was 83. He was three years old when his parents came to the United States. They landed at New Orleans. His mother died at that place. His father and family located at Oconomowoc, Wisconsin in 1855. Mr. Kane grew to manhood in that locality. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in Company I, Seventeenth Wisconsin Infantry serving during the entire war. He fought in the battles of Corinth, Champion Hills, kenesaw Mountains, Atlanta, and Savannah. He made a memorable record in the siege of Vicksburg which lasted forty-seven days. He was known in his regiment as "Little Corporal Kane," as his height was only five feet, four inches. on May 19, 1863, during the Vicksburg siege, he was chosen to carry the colors. Several of his color guard companions were killed in the battle. "Little Corporal Kane" picked up his regimental flag and also an Irish flag belonging to the Irish members of his regiment and dashed forward openly and boldly defying the rebels. The flag of Wisconsin was also borne to the front. Many shots were fired but he never faltered and he was not injured. He was made a sergeant for his bravery. He was under General Sherman during the historic march to the sea and was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. He attended the grand review at Washington in May, 1865. President Johnson and Generals Grant and Sherman were on the reviewing stand. Mr. Kane knew General Sheridan well and fought under him at Corinth in 1862. Sheridan was at that time only a captain. After this battle Sheridan was made a colonel. General Sheridan was only five feet, five inches tall. He was known as "Little Phil." At the close of the war, Mr. Kane returned to Wisconsin, where he was married at Mapleton, on April 17, 1871, to Sarah McNally. A short time later he came to Emmetsburg and located on a farm west of this city. Mrs. Kane arrived the following November. Mr. and Mrs. Kane went to Camp Crook, South Dakota, some years ago, remaining for a season or two. Later they returned to this community. They bought a home in this city in 1908. Mrs. Kane died in February 1924. Mr. Kane is survived by five sons and five daughters. The sons are John of Cando, North Dakota, Ed and Chas. of this place and Robert and Joseph of Bowman, South Dakota. The daughters are Mrs. E.J. Bradley of Graettinger, Mrs. Britt Catern of Camp Crook, South Dakota, Mrs. James Dower of Marengo, and Mrs. Emil Dahl of Rehm, North Dakota. A son, M.P., died at Clinton, Iowa, a few months ago and a daughter, Miss Katherine, passed away in 1919. In the death of Mr. Kane, a true defender of our country in one of its darkest hours and a sterling citizen has been called to his reward. He was a lover of his home and family. He was faithful as a husband, dutiful and provident as a father and warm hearted and staunch as a friend. He was invariably good natured and was among the most ardent of optimists. He ahd no time for the pessimist or the knocker. He was strictly attentive to his church obligations but he had due regard for the views and the rights of members of all creeds. In this respect, he was a typical American. He had good natural ability and with better opportunites earlier in life, he would most likely have distinguished himself in some professional line of activity. His long and honorable record as a soldier and as a citizen shows that our republic can, in time of need, look forward with confidence to prompt, cheerful and capable responses in every walk of life, whenever there are earnest appeals for service and devotion. The sorrowing relatives have the heartfelt sympathy of the resident of our community and county in their deep sorrow. His G.A.R. comrades, only five of whom remain, doubtless feel a keen personal loss of companionship in the passing of Lieutenant Kane, better known as their genial, witty, diplomatic, "Little Corporal" who so bravely carried the colors forward in the face of deadly fire in the siege of Vicksburg, on May 19, 1863, less than two monts before the decisive battle of Gettysburg. Link: Palo Alto County, Iowa USGenWeb Project URL: <http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapaloal/paloalto.htm>